Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday flagged off the first batch of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026 from Tanakpur in Champawat district for the next leg of the pilgrimage. The first batch comprises 49 pilgrims, including a doctor, with 34 men and 15 women.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not just a religious journey, but a symbol of spiritual awareness, cultural unity and national harmony. He said the pilgrimage also promotes the development of border areas, tourism and the local economy. CM Dhami appealed to the pilgrims to encourage local people by purchasing local handicrafts and products.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many historic steps are being taken in the country for the preservation and promotion of Sanatan culture, and ancient temples are being restored and beautified. He wished all the pilgrims a safe and successful journey.
Chief Minister flagged off the first batch from Sharda Tourist Rest House and wished for a safe and successful journey for all the pilgrims. He welcomed all the pilgrims by adorning them with rudraksha malas and Lord Shiva's patka and also engaged in a heartfelt conversation with them.
The pilgrims appreciated the arrangements made by the state government. Pilgrims, including Anil Kumar Jain, who is undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for the seventh time, thanked the state government for the better security and facilities arranged for the journey.
The first batch includes pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Dr. Arun Kumar from Tamil Nadu has accompanied the batch as the doctor. Rajasthan’s 68-year-old Purushottam Khandelwal is the oldest pilgrim in the group, while 21-year-old Harikrishna from Gujarat is the youngest.
It is noteworthy that, due to Chief Minister Dhami’s efforts, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is being operated via the Tanakpur route for the second consecutive year. This is expected to boost religious tourism, trade, transport, hotel business and employment opportunities in the border district of Champawat.
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